Tell Facebook: Do Not Target Kids
Facebook, which has revolutionized marketing and transformed the social life of teens and adults, is looking to target children. It’s a terrible idea. Facebook isn’t safe for kids.
Children are more vulnerable to advertising than adults, and they will be particularly susceptible to Facebook’s targeted ads and peer-to-peer marketing. In addition, they have not yet developed the maturity and judgment essential to handle the complexities of cyber “friendships” or grasp the potential consequences of sharing personal information. But if Facebook starts targeting kids, the pressure to join the site will be intense—to the detriment of their social, emotional, and cognitive development.
Please tell Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to drop any plans to target kids under 13.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Facebook is developing a plan to start targeting children under 13. I urge you to reconsider this terrible idea.
Children are more vulnerable to advertising than adults, and will be particularly susceptible to Facebook’s targeted ads and peer-to-peer marketing. In addition, they have not yet developed the maturity and judgment essential to handle the complexities of cyber “friendships” or grasp the potential consequences of sharing personal information. Given Facebook’s iconic status, if you start targeting kids, the imperative to join will be intense—to the detriment of their social, emotional, and cognitive development.
Please let kids be kids and keep Facebook for adults and teens more able to manage its complexities.
Sincerely,
| Number | Date | Name | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Sun Apr 28 16:12:53 EDT 2013 | Massimo Colautti | Monfalcone (ITALY), ot | |
| 1969 | Mon Apr 22 21:44:18 EDT 2013 | miranda terry | westford, MA | |
| 1968 | Wed Apr 17 21:31:51 EDT 2013 | Samantha Abraham | Palo Alto, CA | I vote to not allow children under 18 years of age. I still kids on with parental agreement and think this should also not be allowed. |
| 1967 | Fri Apr 12 20:55:50 EDT 2013 | Anonymous | La Puente, CA | |
| 1966 | Fri Mar 01 10:58:31 EST 2013 | Heidi Wringer, LCSW | South Bend, IN | |
| 1965 | Thu Feb 28 17:30:12 EST 2013 | olga terlyga | dekalb, IL | |
| 1964 | Thu Feb 28 06:58:12 EST 2013 | James McConnell | Brookline, MA | |
| 1963 | Thu Feb 21 23:00:31 EST 2013 | Anna Jacobs | Roslindale, MA | |
| 1962 | Thu Feb 07 09:19:12 EST 2013 | Ashley Stutler | Clarksburg, WV | |
| 1961 | Wed Dec 26 16:49:06 EST 2012 | Bryar Douglas | Canon City , CO | |
| 1960 | Mon Dec 10 18:12:01 EST 2012 | Sophie Kolodziejczyk | Edmonton, AB | |
| 1959 | Thu Nov 29 23:28:45 EST 2012 | Linda Reven | Montreal, QC | Linda Reven |
| 1958 | Tue Nov 27 09:39:59 EST 2012 | Kimberly Gauquier | Plymouth, NH | In a world where one on one interaction is needed in the development, not only socially but mentally and physically, children are losing. Technology, screen media has bombarded our children and have taken More.... |
| 1957 | Mon Nov 26 00:34:15 EST 2012 | Kristen Koss | Tulsa, OK | |
| 1956 | Mon Nov 19 19:47:53 EST 2012 | Anne Clifford | North Vassalboro, ME | |
| 1955 | Thu Nov 15 13:53:22 EST 2012 | Amanda Pike | Gorham, NH | |
| 1954 | Wed Nov 14 21:06:57 EST 2012 | Paul Acker-Taxis | Placerville, CA | |
| 1953 | Fri Oct 05 09:48:46 EDT 2012 | Ana Patrícia Almeida Pereira | Coimbra, AL | |
| 1952 | Mon Oct 01 17:03:57 EDT 2012 | Kim Knuppel | Menasha, WI | |
| 1951 | Mon Oct 01 17:03:35 EDT 2012 | Kim Knuppel | Menasha, WI | |
| 1950 | Mon Oct 01 14:38:02 EDT 2012 | Teresa Hanna | Harrington, DE | |
| 1949 | Mon Oct 01 12:53:38 EDT 2012 | Mary Dalton | Park Ridge, IL | |
| 1948 | Sat Sep 29 09:33:42 EDT 2012 | Molly Kerrigan | Needham, MA | |
| 1947 | Sat Sep 29 07:40:32 EDT 2012 | Lyn Kardatzke | Cambridge, MA | |
| 1946 | Sat Sep 29 07:04:32 EDT 2012 | Steve Kohn | Highland, NY |